Aotearoa

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From DigitalNZ:

"Launched for 2014's Māori Language Week, the NZ Music Award-nominated video for 'Aotearoa' is a showcase of Kiwi scenery and musical talent, led by main vocalist Stan Walker. 'Aotearoa' began when TV producer Mātai Smith, aware 1983’s 'Poi-E' was the last te reo song to hit number one, thought it might be nice to repeat the feat (in the end he had to settle for number two). Walker wrote the track with his Mt Zion co-star Troy Kingi and singers Vince Harder and Ria Hall. Hall calls the result “a song to celebrate our nation, our landscape, our uniqueness, our language and our people”." (NZ On Screen summary)

""We are New Zealand - it's you and I" sings Minuit's Ruth Carr as images of everyday New Zealanders flash up on the screen. Directed by band member Paul Dodge, Minuit's video for 'Aotearoa' is a nostalgic trip through the archives — a celebration of NZ history starting with images of people and places, including Rangitoto, the Pink Terraces, Greytown's historic Revington's hotel through to Sir Edmund Hillary, Aunt Daisy and Ernest Rutherford, as well as national tragedies, protests and hikois — and even the six o'clock swill gets a look in." (NZ On Screen summary)

"The Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit held in Auckland 2001, was the biggest hip hop event ever staged in New Zealand. This documentary showcases the hottest names in the four elements of NZ hip hop: break dancers, graf artists, MCs and DJs. Featuring international acts from Germany and Australia, with Ken Swift representing old skool break dancing from New York and Tha Liks from Los Angeles. Local acts include Che Fu, Te Kupu, King Kapisi, P Money and DJ Sir-Vere. Presenters are Hayden Hare and Trent Helmbright." (NZ On Screen summary)

"Some of the biggest names in NZ hip hop joined forces for a charity single encouraging wise decision-making in young Kiwis. 'Think Twice' was the brainchild of DJ Sir-Vere, who was concerned about increasing youth crime: "Some of the things happening seemed to be a result of poor judgement and it got me wondering how things might be different if people stopped to think twice about the consequences of their actions." Aotearoa All Stars included Awa (Nesian Mystik), Che Fu, Scribe, P-Money, Savage, PNC, Mareko, Cyphanetik, Delani, Flowz and TEK. " (NZ On Screen summary)

"Rebecca Gin created a simple but effective black and white video for this charity single, aimed at encouraging young people to ‘Think Twice’ before committing a crime. The line-up of singers and rappers is indeed all-star, and their mass performance footage is intercut with relevant street scenes illustrating the theme. The cast of New Zealand hip-hop royalty features Che Fu, Scribe, P-Money, Savage and DJ Sir-Vere (who initiated the project)." (NZ On Screen summary)

"Directed by prolific music video maker and now feature film director Jonathan King, this clip won Best Video at the 1997 NZ Music Awards. The sepia-tinged print, colonial photo studio-styled art direction and details (tokotoko and Edwardian suits) are beautifully realised and make for an effective back-drop to the song’s political lyrics. DJ Sir-Vere: “an original Aotearoa classic” " (NZ On Screen summary)

"In 2003 Toi Māori Aotearoa engaged Charlotte Yates to produce an album and stage performance celebrating the verse of poet Hone Tuwhare. Yates co-opted various musicians (including Dallas Tamaira from Fat Freddy's Drop, and the late Graham Brazier) to transform Tuwhare's poetry into lyrics, using a range of music from rock to dub. This short film by Lala Rolls was commissioned for the album launch; the material was also used in the live show. We see Tuwhare at home at Kaka Point and reciting his poetry against the songs, and glimpse his warmth, humour and literary verve." (NZ On Screen summary)

"This evocative music video scored a double-header: it was voted best video at both the NZ Music Awards, and the NZ Film and Television Awards. Emma Paki won gongs for singing and songwriting. Director Josh Frizzell mixes images of Paki singing on the streets with often sombre portraits of locals in their element, from children to gang members. Widely regarded as Paki's magnum opus, System Virtue became one of the most played local music videos of 1994. Killing Joke's Jaz Coleman produced the song; a much lusher version later appeared on 1996 album Oxygen of Love. " (NZ On Screen summary)

"Samoan-born MC Feelstyle has long been lauded amongst Aotearoa's hip hop elite for his ability to craft music in both his native Samoan and English. The rapper earned a place in the history books, under the name RIQ, when he edged out Upper Hutt Posse to win the country's first ever MC battle in 1987. He's been in demand since, working closely with a list of Kiwi music's who's who and dominating the 2005 Pacific Music Awards with debut album Break It To Pieces. " (NZ On Screen summary)

"Reuben Sutherland directs a hair-raising tour through a wretched laboratory in this music video — his second Shihad clip in a row to take away the Best Video Award, at Aotearoa's yearly music award ceremonies. Frenetically paced and skillfully edited, the video adheres to the feverish temperament of the song, while layered graphics add a sinister and unsettling sci-fi edge. Singer Jon Toogood nails his performance as a demented pharmacist bent way out of shape. Aside from making videos and commercials, director Sutherland is also one half of sound plus visuals group Sculpture." (NZ On Screen summary)

"Phillipa 'Pip' Brown grew up preferring solitude and music to other children, but despite turning into the "most awkward person ever", she overcame shyness to become an internationally acclaimed musician. Naming herself Ladyhawke after the 1980s fantasy film starring Michelle Pfeiffer, she released her self-titled debut album in 2008. A top seller in New Zealand, it was certified gold in Australia and the United Kingdom; track 'My Delirium' reached the top 10 in Australia and Aotearoa. Ladyhawke won six Tuis at the 2009 NZ Music Awards and a nomination for International Female Solo Artist at the 2010 Brit Awards. " (NZ On Screen summary)

"The opening images of this video — the swinging guitar, fingers on the fretboard — make for a defining moment in Kiwi music video history. The clip was actually shot in Australia; by the time they recorded the song, The Swingers had relocated from Aotearoa to Melbourne. They would soon be history. Aussie cinematographer/ director Ray Argall ('World Where You Live') matches the beloved composition with colourful images, quirky humour, and an infectious dance finale. In 2001 music organisation APRA voted the chart topper fourth on their list of the top Kiwi songs to date. " (NZ On Screen summary)

"Matthew Chicoine aka Recloose was an accomplished DJ and producer in his native Detroit before he moved to Aotearoa in 2001. The fusion of a fresh, edge-of-the-planet perspective, with the dance music heritage of Motor City allowed him to forge new musical paths, from playing with Carl Craig's Interzone orchestra to collaborating with Joe (Fat Freddys Drop) Dukie. The stonking dance floor beats and sax jams of Recloose's renowned live shows were captured on 2008's Perfect Timing, which won Best Electronica/Dance album at the NZ Music Awards." (NZ On Screen summary)

"R&B singer and TV personality Stan Walker (Tūhoe/Ngāti Tūwharetoa) was born in Melbourne but raised in New Zealand. After moving back across the Tasman, he won Australian Idol in 2009 and launched a music career which has included a chart-topping album (From The Inside Out) and single (‘Black Box’), plus multiple NZ Music Awards. In 2013, Walker he helped judge the first series of X Factor NZ and made his film debut as star of box office hit Mt Zion — playing a potato picker with dreams of supporting Bob Marley. 2014 saw the release of ensemble te reo single 'Aotearoa'." (NZ On Screen summary)

"The video for 'Cool World' melds a mood of paranoia — including flashes of recording equipment, and worried words about surveillance — with numerous images of a model in a silver halter top, dealing to a punching bag. The Samoan brothers Ioasa create a smoothly percussive sound, which echoes overseas bands like Roxy Music and The Blue Nile much more strongly than other music coming out of Aotearoa in this period (1995). The song is taken from Grace's only album Black Sand Shore, which writer Nick Bollinger later rated as one of New Zealand's 100 finest. " (NZ On Screen summary)

"This episode of C4's music series Homegrown Profiles looks at the 30 year career of singer/songwriter Dave Dobbyn, whose songs are mainstays of the Aotearoa soundscape. Dobbyn talks about nerve-wracking early days with th' Dudes, where the name for band DD Smash originated, and his long solo career. In a wide-ranging and thoughtful interview, Dobbyn discusses the highs and lows of a life in music, including the mayhem and causes of the 1984 Aotea Square riot, being told his best album was unreleasable, and the satisfaction of writing the Footrot Flats soundtrack." (NZ On Screen summary)

"The three day Nambassa Festival, held on a Waihi farm in 1979, is the subject of this documentary. Attended by 60,000 people, it represented a high tide mark in Aotearoa for the Woodstock vision of a music festival as a counterculture celebration of music, crafts, alternative lifestyles and all things hippy. Performers include a frenzied Split Enz, The Plague (wearing paint), Limbs dancers, a yodelling John Hore-Grenell and prog rockers Schtung. The only downers are overzealous policing, and weather which discourages too much communing with nature after the first day." (NZ On Screen summary)

"Formed by producers Simon Rycroft, Imon Star and Thomas Voyce, Wellington act Rhombus billed itself as “Aotearoa's premier dub & bass electronic soul, funk, hip-hop band”. Their 2002 debut album Bass Player featured guest MCs and vocalists including Tiki Taane and Raashi Malik, and tracks produced while Voyce was based in Japan. They also won fans with 'Clav Dub', a music video which paid homage to classic movie Goodbye Pork Pie. Two more Rhombus albums have followed, plus a collection of remixes." (NZ On Screen summary)

"Their website lists them as the "pioneers of horrified hip hop" - and trailblazers they were when they released their first album under the name Native Bass in 1992 at a time when hip hop was practically unheard of in Aotearoa. Later renamed as Dam Native, Danny Haimona and Bennett Pomana, were credited with raising awareness of Māori issues through their music. The duo's first album, Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted, has been acclaimed as the best hip hop album made on Kiwi soil." (NZ On Screen summary)

"If a single word could sum up the free-wheeling flavour of alternative music and comedy in Aotearoa during the 1970s, that word would surely be ... Blerta. The 'Bruno Lawrence Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition' included foundation members of the NZ screen industry (Lawrence, Geoff Murphy, Alun Bollinger) plus other merry pranksters. Drawing on the Blerta TV series and beyond, Blerta Revisited (aka Blerta - The Return Trip) is an anarchic collection of comedy skits, musical interludes and films culled from the Blerta archives. Costa Botes writes about Blerta here. " (NZ On Screen summary)

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